Recently, focus in the Nordics has expanded from only concerning start-ups to also include companies
in the next phase, the scale-ups. These companies have found a product market fit and are experiencing
high growth, with great potential to benefit society by employing and paying taxes if they succeed in
scaling up. Several initiatives have been initiated with the aim to support scale-ups, for instance scaling
programs, which are cohort-based, time-fixed programs. However, research on how such programs
should be designed is lacking, as well as research regarding scale-ups in general.
The purpose of the thesis is to identify the challenges that scale-ups face, and investigate how scaling
programs can support companies in this phase. Furthermore, it aims to illuminate the need for policy
makers and researchers to pay attention to scale-ups and understand how they differ from start-ups and
established firms. Lastly, the aim is to improve social and economic sustainability, by highlighting how
scale-ups most effectively should be supported.
The study mapped all scaling programs in the Nordics. Interestingly, the programs varied much in terms
of companies accepted, which might be a result of the lack of a formal definition of scale-ups. Four of
the identified programs were selected for deeper case studies in which participants and organizers from
LEAP, Nordic Scalers, Scaleup Academy and TINC were interviewed. From these interviews, as well
as observations and interviews with scale-up experts, challenges for scale-ups were identified.
In total, 21 challenges were identified for scale-ups, which in turn could be categorized into the
challenge areas Ecosystem, Financing, Infrastructure, Leadership, Marketing & Sales, People, and
Strategy. One of the most prominent challenges was access to competence both in terms of employees
and scaling experience. From the collected data, a checklist containing ten design principles for scaling
programs was developed.
The thesis will have several implications for the growth and success of scale-ups in the Nordics. Firstly,
by highlighting the challenges for scale-ups, it can help entrepreneurs to avoid some of them. Secondly,
it provides an overview of the current support environment for scale-ups, which is valuable both for
entrepreneurs and program organizers. Thirdly, it can help program organizers to design more effective
scaling programs.

BibTeX @mastersthesis{Malmgren2018,author={Malmgren, Josefin and Videbert, Adam},title={Transitioning to Scale Challenges and Support for Nordic Scale-ups},abstract={Recently, focus in the Nordics has expanded from only concerning start-ups to also include companies
in the next phase, the scale-ups. These companies have found a product market fit and are experiencing
high growth, with great potential to benefit society by employing and paying taxes if they succeed in
scaling up. Several initiatives have been initiated with the aim to support scale-ups, for instance scaling
programs, which are cohort-based, time-fixed programs. However, research on how such programs
should be designed is lacking, as well as research regarding scale-ups in general.
The purpose of the thesis is to identify the challenges that scale-ups face, and investigate how scaling
programs can support companies in this phase. Furthermore, it aims to illuminate the need for policy
makers and researchers to pay attention to scale-ups and understand how they differ from start-ups and
established firms. Lastly, the aim is to improve social and economic sustainability, by highlighting how
scale-ups most effectively should be supported.
The study mapped all scaling programs in the Nordics. Interestingly, the programs varied much in terms
of companies accepted, which might be a result of the lack of a formal definition of scale-ups. Four of
the identified programs were selected for deeper case studies in which participants and organizers from
LEAP, Nordic Scalers, Scaleup Academy and TINC were interviewed. From these interviews, as well
as observations and interviews with scale-up experts, challenges for scale-ups were identified.
In total, 21 challenges were identified for scale-ups, which in turn could be categorized into the
challenge areas Ecosystem, Financing, Infrastructure, Leadership, Marketing & Sales, People, and
Strategy. One of the most prominent challenges was access to competence both in terms of employees
and scaling experience. From the collected data, a checklist containing ten design principles for scaling
programs was developed.
The thesis will have several implications for the growth and success of scale-ups in the Nordics. Firstly,
by highlighting the challenges for scale-ups, it can help entrepreneurs to avoid some of them. Secondly,
it provides an overview of the current support environment for scale-ups, which is valuable both for
entrepreneurs and program organizers. Thirdly, it can help program organizers to design more effective
scaling programs.},publisher={Institutionen för teknikens ekonomi och organisation, Entrepreneurship and Strategy , Chalmers tekniska högskola},place={Göteborg},year={2018},series={Master thesis. E - Department of Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden, no: },keywords={Scale-up, scaling, high-growth company, growth challenges, scaling support, scaling program, program design principles, Nordic entrepreneurial ecosystem},note={128},}

RefWorks RT GenericSR ElectronicID 255403A1 Malmgren, JosefinA1 Videbert, AdamT1 Transitioning to Scale Challenges and Support for Nordic Scale-upsYR 2018AB Recently, focus in the Nordics has expanded from only concerning start-ups to also include companies
in the next phase, the scale-ups. These companies have found a product market fit and are experiencing
high growth, with great potential to benefit society by employing and paying taxes if they succeed in
scaling up. Several initiatives have been initiated with the aim to support scale-ups, for instance scaling
programs, which are cohort-based, time-fixed programs. However, research on how such programs
should be designed is lacking, as well as research regarding scale-ups in general.
The purpose of the thesis is to identify the challenges that scale-ups face, and investigate how scaling
programs can support companies in this phase. Furthermore, it aims to illuminate the need for policy
makers and researchers to pay attention to scale-ups and understand how they differ from start-ups and
established firms. Lastly, the aim is to improve social and economic sustainability, by highlighting how
scale-ups most effectively should be supported.
The study mapped all scaling programs in the Nordics. Interestingly, the programs varied much in terms
of companies accepted, which might be a result of the lack of a formal definition of scale-ups. Four of
the identified programs were selected for deeper case studies in which participants and organizers from
LEAP, Nordic Scalers, Scaleup Academy and TINC were interviewed. From these interviews, as well
as observations and interviews with scale-up experts, challenges for scale-ups were identified.
In total, 21 challenges were identified for scale-ups, which in turn could be categorized into the
challenge areas Ecosystem, Financing, Infrastructure, Leadership, Marketing & Sales, People, and
Strategy. One of the most prominent challenges was access to competence both in terms of employees
and scaling experience. From the collected data, a checklist containing ten design principles for scaling
programs was developed.
The thesis will have several implications for the growth and success of scale-ups in the Nordics. Firstly,
by highlighting the challenges for scale-ups, it can help entrepreneurs to avoid some of them. Secondly,
it provides an overview of the current support environment for scale-ups, which is valuable both for
entrepreneurs and program organizers. Thirdly, it can help program organizers to design more effective
scaling programs.PB Institutionen för teknikens ekonomi och organisation, Entrepreneurship and Strategy , Chalmers tekniska högskola,PB Institutionen för teknikens ekonomi och organisation, Entrepreneurship and Strategy , Chalmers tekniska högskola,T3 Master thesis. E - Department of Technology Management and Economics, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden, no: LA engLK http://publications.lib.chalmers.se/records/fulltext/255403/255403.pdfOL 30